Multiple chart user interface

ABSTRACT

A drag-and-drop user interface (DDUI) can generate multiple charts in an integrated chart report and supports the drag-and-drop method of adding fields to the integrated chart report. When a field is dropped from a field list into a multiple chart drop zone, the DDUI will automatically generate additional charts to represent the data in the dropped field. An additional chart will be generated for each unique entry in a data field. The number of charts can be modified by selecting particular elements in the dropped field, by means of a drop-down menu. The drop-down menu enables the elimination or addition of elements of the dropped field. Each additional field dropped into the multiple chart drop zone will add a chart to the chart report. Conversely, each field dragged out of the multiple chart drop zone will eliminate a chart from the chart report. The DDUI can accommodate various chart types. The multiple chart drop zone can be slightly modified to accommodate the specialized needs of various chart types, for example, x-y, bubble, bar, and pie chart types.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to providing a graphicaldata analysis tool to computer users. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a user interface capable of generating multiplechart reports in an integrated data analysis tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Modem spreadsheet application programs generally providesophisticated charting tools for graphically representing data. One suchcharting tool provides a drag-and-drop user interface (DDUI) thatpermits a user to populate a chart with data from a data source (e.g., amulti-dimensional database). The primary benefit of the charting DDUI isthat the user can quickly change the data that is being presented in thechart. For example, a user can drag-and-drop an icon representing thedata field containing the sales of widgets in Washington. The data inthe data field will be used to populate the portion of the charting DDUIinto which the data field icon was dropped. The user may then replacethe icon with another data field icon to generate a chart of the salesof widgets in Oregon. Thus, the charting DDUI enables quick comparisonsbetween various data, without requiring a complicated set-up foridentifying the data to be charted.

[0003] A data source can be represented as a field list that contains agroup of field icons. Each field icon represents a field that can beused to populate the chart. The charting DDUI is divided into dropzones. Dropping a field icon into a drop zone causes the charting DDUIto populate a corresponding portion of the chart with the data from thefield. The field list is divided into two field groups: a values groupand a characteristics group. The values group contains fields of actualdata values (e.g., sales totals) and the characteristics group containsfields of data characteristics (e.g., regions in which those salestotals were accumulated).

[0004] A conventional charting DDUI has four drop zones. A Data Fielddrop zone accepts data fields from the values group, such as a “Sales”data field. A Category Field drop zone accepts category fields from thecharacteristics group, such as the “Region” category field. A SeriesField drop zone accepts series fields from the characteristics group,such as a “Product” category field. Finally, a Filter Field drop zoneaccepts filter fields from the characteristics group, such as a “Month”category field.

[0005] Thus, the above-described drop zones can be used to generate acustomized graphical representation of eta. For example, an x-y chartcould be generated, with regions listed along the x-axis, sales totalslisted along the y-axis, with lines across the chart representing saleslevels for various products. The Filter field could be used to limit thedata charted to the last five years.

[0006] A user can chart data (i.e., generate a chart report) and thenchange the data to compare scenarios by dropping a new data field iconinto the DDUI. Unfortunately, conventional charting DDUIs do not providethe ability to compare different data scenarios on the same screen. Forexample, if a user wanted to chart the above data, but also wanted togenerate separate charts for retail stores and wholesale stores, thecharts would have to be generated in sequence. That is, the user wouldhave to generate a retail store chart and then generate a wholesalestore chart, but could not display both charts at the same time.Therefore, there is a need in the art for a charting DDUI that cangenerate multiple charts at the same time and supports the drag-and-dropmethod of adding fields.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention meets the above-described needs byproviding a charting DDUI that can generate multiple chartssimultaneously in an integrated display and supports the drag-and-dropmethod of adding fields.

[0008] The present invention has a multiple data field drop zone thataccepts multiple data fields to generate multiple charts. A chart can beany visual or graphical representation of data. When a user drops afield from the characteristics group into the multiple data field dropzone, the charting DDUI of the present invention will automaticallygenerate additional charts to represent the data contained in theadditional, dropped data field. An additional chart will be generatedfor each unique entry in the dropped data field. If a characteristicsdata field having multiple unique entries is dropped into the multipledata field drop zone, then an additional chart will be generated foreach unique store type in the data field.

[0009] A user can modify the number of generated charts by modifying thenumber of represented elements in the data field. A drop-down menu isprovided next to the data field name (in the multiple data field dropzone). The drop-down menu permits the elimination or addition of uniqueentries in the data field that are represented in the multiple datafield drop zone. For example, if the dropped data field contains threeunique entries, dropping the data field into the multiple data fielddrop zone would generate three, separate charts. However, by eliminatingone of the unique entries, one of the charts can be eliminated.

[0010] In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided forgenerating a chart report. A field list is displayed containing at leastone data field. A drop zone is displayed and receives a first data fieldthat is dropped into the drop zone. In response to receiving the firstdata field, a first chart of the first data field is generated. The dropzone receives a second data field that is dropped into the drop zone anda second chart is generated of the first data field and a third chart isgenerated of the second data field

[0011] In another aspect of the invention, a drag-and-drop userinterface (DDUI) is provided for generating a chart report depictingdata contained in a data source. The DDUI has a field list containing atleast one value data field and at least one characteristic data field.The DDUI also has a data field drop zone for receiving at least onevalue data field, a filter field drop zone for receiving at least onecharacteristic data field, a category field drop zone for receiving atleast one characteristic data field, a multiple chart drop zone forreceiving at least one characteristic data field, and a series fielddrop zone for receiving at least one characteristic data field. Thechart report having more than one chart is generated in response toreceiving more than one characteristic data field in the multiple chartdrop zone.

[0012] The various aspects of the present invention may be more clearlyunderstood and appreciated from a review of the following detaileddescription of the disclosed embodiments and by reference to thedrawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary operatingenvironment for implementing of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating some of the primarycomponents of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 3a depicts an exemplary data source.

[0016]FIG. 3b depicts an exemplary table report and an associated datasource.

[0017]FIG. 3c depicts an exemplary chart report.

[0018]FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary drag-and-drop user interface,operative to generate a chart report.

[0019]FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary drag-and-drop user interface,operative to generate a chart report capable of displaying multiplecharts.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method fordisplaying multiple charts in a single, integrated chart report.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a dragand-drop user interface (DDUI) is provided to generate multiple chartsin an integrated chart report (i.e., all charts are simultaneouslydisplayed) and to support the drag-and-drop method of adding data fieldsto the integrated chart report. A chart can be any visual or graphicalrepresentation of data. Typically, a data field is a group of dataassociated with a data source. Data values and characteristics can berepresented as data fields in a field list. When a data field is draggedfrom a field list and dropped into a multiple data field drop zone, theDDUI of an exemplary embodiment can automatically generate additionalcharts to represent the data in the dropped data field. An additionalchart will be generated for each unique entry in a data field. Thenumber of charts can be modified by selecting particular elements in thedropped data field, by means of a drop-down menu. The drop-down menupermits the elimination or addition of elements of the dropped datafield. Each additional data field dropped into the multiple data fielddrop zone will add one or more charts to the chart report. Conversely,each field dragged out of the value data field drop zone will eliminateone or more charts from the chart report.

[0022] An exemplary DDUI can accommodate various chart types. Themultiple data field drop zone can be slightly modified to accommodatethe specialized needs of various chart types, such as x-y, bubble, bar,and pie chart types.

[0023] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will hereinafterbe described with reference to the drawings, in which like numeralsrepresent like elements throughout the several figures. FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary operating environment for implementation of thepresent invention. The exemplary operating environment includes ageneral-purpose computing device in the form of a conventional personalcomputer 20. Generally, a personal computer 20 includes a processingunit 21, a system memory 22, and a system bus 23 that couples varioussystem components including the system memory 22 to processing unit 21.System bus 23 may be any of several types of bus structures including amemory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory includes a readonly memory (ROM) 24 and random access memory (RAM) 25. A basicinput/output system (BIOS) 26, containing the basic routines that helpto transfer information between elements within personal computer 20,such as during start-up, is stored in ROM 24.

[0024] Personal computer 20 further includes a hard disk drive 27 forreading from and writing to a hard disk, not shown, a magnetic diskdrive 28 for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk 29,and an optical disk drive 30 for reading from or writing to a removableoptical disk 31 such as a CD-ROM or other optical media. Hard disk drive27, magnetic disk drive 28, and optical disk drive 30 are connected tosystem bus 23 by a hard disk drive interface 32, a magnetic disk driveinterface 33, and an optical disk drive interface 34, respectively.Although the exemplary environment described herein employs hard disk27, removable magnetic disk 29, and removable optical disk 31, it shouldbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computerreadable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer,such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks,Bernoulli cartridges, RAMs, ROMs, and the like, may also be used in theexemplary operating environment. The drives and their associatedcomputer readable media provide nonvolatile storage ofcomputer-executable instructions, data structures, program modules, andother data for personal computer 20.

[0025] A number of program modules may be stored on hard disk 27,magnetic disk 29, optical disk 31, ROM 24, or RAM 25, including anoperating system 35, a spreadsheet component 36, a chart component 38,and a data source 39. Program modules include routines, sub-routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects ofthe present invention may be implemented in the form of a chartcomponent 38 that can be incorporated into or otherwise in communicationwith a spreadsheet component 36. The spreadsheet component 36 generallycomprises computer-executable instructions for creating or modifying anelectronic spreadsheet document. The chart component 38 generallycomprises computer-executable instructions for providing a chart reportor other graphical data analysis tools, based on data contained in thedata source 39. The chart component 38 is generally accessible to thespreadsheet component 36, but can also be implemented as an integralpart of the spreadsheet editor program module. As is described inconnection with FIG. 2, the chart component 38 can also be implementedin conjunction with a table component (element 202 of FIG. 2), either asseparate components or as a single, integrated component.

[0026] A user may enter commands and information into personal computer20 through input devices, such as a keyboard 40 and a pointing device42. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick,game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other inputdevices are often connected to processing unit 22 through a serial portinterface 46 that is coupled to the system bus 23, but may be connectedby other interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, a universalserial bus (USB), or the like. A display device 47 may also be connectedto system bus 23 via an interface, such as a video adapter 48. Inaddition to the monitor, personal computers typically include otherperipheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.

[0027] The personal computer 20 may operate in a networked environmentusing logical connections to one or more remote computers 49. Remotecomputer 49 may be another personal computer, a server, a client, arouter, a network PC, a peer device, or other common network node. Whilea remote computer 49 typically includes many or all of the elementsdescribed above relative to the personal computer 20, only a memorystorage device 50 has been illustrated in the figure. The logicalconnections depicted in the figure include a local area network (LAN) 51and a wide area network (WAN) 52. Such networking environments arecommonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets,and the Internet.

[0028] When used in a LAN networking environment, the personal computer20 is often connected to the local area network 51 through a networkinterface or adapter 53. When used in a WAN networking environment, thepersonal computer 20 typically includes a modem 54 or other means forestablishing communications over WAN 52, such as the Internet. Modem 54,which may be internal or external, is connected to system bus 23 viaserial port interface 46. In a networked environment, program modulesdepicted relative to personal computer 20, or portions thereof, may bestored in the remote memory storage device 50. It will be appreciatedthat the network connections shown are exemplary and other means ofestablishing a communications link between the computers may be used.

[0029] Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that thepresent invention may be implemented in other computer systemconfigurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems,microprocessor based or programmable consumer electronics, networkperson computers, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Theinvention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments,where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linkedthrough a communications network. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

[0030]FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary chart component 204 operating inconjunction with an exemplary spreadsheet component 206. The chartcomponent 204 can be any program module operative to graphically rendercharts or graphs or any other graphical display of data. The rendereddata can come from a data source 200 and/or a spreadsheet component 206An exemplary spreadsheet component can retrieve data from and store datato the data source 200. The data source 200 can be a spreadsheetdocument, a database, or any other well-known means for datacompilation. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that either flatdata (i.e., one or two dimensional data) or multidimensional data (morethan two-dimensional data) can be processed by the spreadsheet component206.

[0031] The spreadsheet component 206 can access the chart component 204to provide a graphical representation of data. Often, the spreadsheetcomponent will also access a table component 202. The table component202 is a program module operative to organize data into tables toenhance the ability of the spreadsheet component 206 to manipulate thedata. The Pivot Table component of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheetapplication program, marketed and manufactured by Microsoft Corporationof Redmond, Wash., is an example of a table component. The exemplarytable component 202 can be used to create an interactive table thatsummarizes data from the data source 200. The rows and columns of theinteractive table can be rotated to produce various summaries of thedata, to filter the data by displaying selected parts of the data, andto display the data in a particular area of interest. Such interactivetable components are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0032] The chart component 204 can be used in conjunction with theinteractive table component 202 to view and rearrange data graphically.In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the chart componentproduces a chart report that is associated with a table component reportand includes all of the data in the associated table component report.The Pivot chart component of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet applicationprogram is an example of an exemplary chart component.

[0033]FIGS. 3a-3 c depict exemplary table reports and chart reportsrepresenting data contained in exemplary datasources. FIG. 3a depicts anexemplary data source 300 that is a flat data source, maintained in atwo-dimensional spreadsheet document. The data source 300 includes datafields for “Month”, “Product”, “Salesperson”, “Sales”, and “Region”data. Each data field is either a value data field or a characteristicsdata field. In the example of FIG. 3a, the “Sales” data field is a valuedata field and the other data fields are characteristics data fields.FIG. 3b depicts an exemplary table report 302 in connection with theassociated source data 303. The table report shows a rotated “Quarter”column that is used to categorize sales totals by yearly quarter. Thatis, the raw data is processed from the source data 303 to collect andtotal the sales data by quarter. Additionally, the “Sport” column hasbeen condensed to total the sale data for “Golf” and “Tennis” entries.Thus, for example, the sales value in cell F5 of the table repot 302sums all sales data for golf-related sales occurring in the thirdquarter. The sales values meeting the criteria are contained in cells C2and C8 of the data source 303.

[0034]FIG. 3c depicts an exemplary chart report. The chart report 304has been generated from the data source 300 of FIG. 3a. In the chartreport 304, a bar graph 305 is generated that categorizes the salesfigures from the data source 300 by Salesperson and Month. The Monthdata field and the Salesperson data field are referred to as categories.In FIG. 3c, the categories are shown as category buttons 320 and 324.The Month category button 324 has an associated drop-down menu (notshown) that can be accessed with toggle button 326. The drop-down menuenables the modification of elements of the Month data field. Forexample, the month of June can be selected and the month of Mayde-selected by use of the drop-down menu to provide the bar graph 305showing only sales totals for the month of June. On the other hand, thedrop-down menu associated with Salesperson category button 320 has notbeen used to modify the elements of the Salesperson data field.Accordingly, all elements of the Salesperson data field (i.e., Buchananand Davolio) are shown in the bar graph 305.

[0035] The data to be charted is identified by value data field button312. In the example of FIG. 3c, the data to be charted are the salesfigures from the “Sales” column of the data source 300 (FIG. 3a). Thedata depicted in the bar graph 305 can be further filtered by use of afilter button 316. The filter button can be used to limit the data thatis depicted in the bar graph 305 by providing a drop-down menuaccessible though toggle button 318. The drop-down menu will display theunique elements of one or more data fields. By selecting andde-selecting unique elements of the data field, the chart report 304 canbe customized to focus on a particular collection of data. In theexample of FIG. 3c, the “Region” data field has been used to filter thebar graph 305. The data field element “East” has been selected from thedrop-down menu. As a result, only the sales totals corresponding to theEast region are depicted in the bar graph 305.

[0036] The exemplary chart report 304 can also include a series button306 that permits the separation of charted data into particular series.In the example of FIG. 3c, the sales data has been divided into “Meat”and “Dairy” product types. Accordingly, the bar-type representations ofsales totals are charted in two shades, each shade corresponding to acharted series. The series can be selected by use of a drop-down menuthat can be displayed by and accessed through toggle button 308. A codedlegend 328 can also be automatically generated to provide a means foridentifying the series depicted in the chart report 304.

[0037] The description of FIGS. 3a, 3 b, and 3 c is intended to providea basic understanding of the interaction between a data source, a tablereport, and a chart report, a more detailed description of table reportscan be found in a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/332,720, that is also assigned to Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,Wash. A more detailed description of chart reports can be found inco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/333737, also assigned toMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. Both of these patentapplications are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0038]FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary drag-and-drop user interface (DDUI)for generating a chart report having a single chart. The DDUI 400 can beassociated with a data source, such as the two dimensional data source300 of FIG. 3a. Once associated with a data source, the DDUI canautomatically generate a field list 408 that includes both value dataand characteristic data. Value data includes data, such as sales data,that can be summarized and compiled (i.e., aggregated), in a graphicalformat. In the example of FIG. 4, the sales data from the data source300 is the value data provided in the field list 408. Characteristicdata includes characteristics of the value data. The characteristicspermit the value data to be manipulated (e.g., summarized, filtered) ina graphical format.

[0039] The DDUI 400 permits the value data fields and the characteristicdata fields (collectively, data fields) to be dragged and dropped intodrop zones. A Data Field drop zone 402 can accept value data fields(e.g., sales) and will chart that data as described in connection withFIGS. 3a-3 c. Category drop zone 404 will accept characteristic datafields and will modify the charted data as described above in connectionwith FIGS. 3a-3 c. A Multi-Chart drop zone 405 can accept characteristicdata fields and will modify the charted data as described above inconnection with the Category drop zone 404. A series drop zone 410accepts characteristic data field and will separate the charted data asdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 3a-3 c. Finally, a filter dropzone 406 accepts characteristic data fields and filters the charted dataas described above in connection with FIGS. 3a-3 c.

[0040] Although the Multi-Chart drop zone 405 and the Category drop zone404 both accept dropped characteristic data fields, the Multi-Chart dropzone and the Category drop zone differ in at least one significant way.If a user drops a characteristic data field in a Category drop zone 404that is already populated, then the newly dropped characteristic datafield will replace the previously dropped characteristic data fieldpopulating the Category drop zone. However, dropping a characteristicdata field in the Multi-Chart drop zone 405 will add the effects of thenewly dropped characteristic data field to any characteristic datafields previously dropped in the Multi-Chart drop zone 405. Notably,dropping an additional characteristic data field into the Multi-Chartdrop zone 405 will create at least one new chart. This multiple chartfeature provides a user interface that permits a user to quickly comparethe effects of multiple characteristic data fields on charted data.

[0041] The DDUI 400 provides an excellent tool for generating multiplechart reports quickly. Moreover, the DDUI 400 permits the generatedchart reports to be modified quickly and easily. The DDUI 400 allows achart report to be quickly populated and de-populated by dragging anddropping data fields into or out of drop zones.

[0042]FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary drag-and-drop user interface (DDUI)for generating a chart report integrating multiple sub-charts. The DDUI500 of FIG. 5 has been populated (unlike the DDUI 400 of FIG. 4). TheDDUI 500 permits multiple characteristic data fields to be dropped intoa Multi-Chart drop zone 501. Each dropped data field will generate a newsub-chart 502 for each sub-data field in the dropped data field.

[0043] In the example depicted in FIG. 5, an “Education Level” datafield has been dropped into the Multi-Chart drop zone 501. The EducationLevel data field is divided into two sub-data fields. Each sub-datafield generates a corresponding sub-chart 502. In this example, thesub-data fields are “Bachelors Degree” and “Graduate Degree”. Eachsub-chart 502 is divided by “Store Sales” in the y-axis and by “ProductFamily” in the x-axis. The Product Family data field has been droppedinto the category drop zone as indicated by category field button 510.The specific elements of the Product Family that will affect thesub-charts 502 (e.g., Drink, Food, Non-Consumable) can be selected byuse of a drop-down menu accessible through toggle button 512.

[0044] A “Customers” data field has been dropped into the filter dropzone as indicated by filter button 514. As described above in connectionwith FIGS. 3a-3 c, the unique elements of the Customers data field canbe selected by use of a drop-down menu accessible through toggle button516. In this example, the filter button 514 indicates that Customers inthe “USA” are being displayed. That is, all non-USA elements of theCustomers data field are being filtered (i.e., eliminated from thesub-charts).

[0045] Finally, a series drop zone includes a “Gender” data field, asindicated by series button 506. The Gender data field includes theunique entries shown in the legend 518. As a result, each sub-chart 502is separated into the series elements (i.e., Male, Female) shown in thelegend 518. As described above in connection with FIGS. 3a-3 c, theunique elements of the Gender data field can be selected and de-selectedusing a drop-down menu accessible through toggle button 508.

[0046] Advantageously, the multiple chart data field drop zone of DDUI500 permits the comparison of data in an integrated display. For thepurposes of this description, an integrated display depicts allgenerated sub-charts simultaneously. Accordingly, each sub-chart 502 canbe displayed and modified to provide instant graphical data analysis. Inthe case of conventional chart report tools, each chart must beindividually generated. This limitation presents an obstacle to theability to compare graphical representations of data. For example, witha conventional chart report tool, a user could generate a series ofcharts and print each chart report, so that the printed chart reportscould be compared to one another. However, the integrated DDUI 500 ofFIG. 5 permits the comparison of multiple charts in an integrateddisplay, thereby enhancing the ability to perform comparative dataanalysis. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the chartcomponent can be configured to permit or prohibit the display ofmultiple charts. Multiple chart functionality can be governed throughthe use of well-known options and/or preferences configuration tools.

[0047]FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary method for generating a chart reportwith one or more charts. The method starts at block 600 and proceeds tostep 602. At step 602 a data source is identified. As described above,an exemplary chart report can be populated with data from a data source.The method proceeds from step 602 to step 604 and the field list anddrop zones are displayed. Once the field list and drop zones have beendisplayed, the method can accept dropped data fields. The dropped fieldscan be any of the fields listed in event blocks 606, 612, 618, and 628,as well as various other fields, not depicted in FIG. 6.

[0048] If a data field is dropped in the filter drop zone, the methodbranches to event block 606 and then to step 608. At step 608, thecharted data is limited to elements identified in the dropped datafield. The method then proceeds to step 610. At step 610, a drop-downmenu is displayed permitting modification of the filter elements in thedata field. As described above, this step can be performed in responseto a toggle button selection. The method then proceeds to step 604 viaconnectors A. At step 604, the field list and drop zones can berefreshed, as required, and the method can receive further dropped datafields.

[0049] If a data field is dropped in the series drop zone, the methodbranches from step 604 to event block 612 and then to step 614. At step614, the charted data is separated according to the series in thedropped field. The method then proceeds to step 616 and a drop-down menuis displayed to modify the series elements of the dropped field. Asdescribed above, this step can be performed in response to a togglebutton selection. The method then proceeds to step 604, via connectorsA.

[0050] If a data field is dropped in the category drop zone, the methodbranches from step 604 to event block 618 and then to step 620. At step620, the charted data (e.g., the data in each sub-chart) is categorizedaccording to the categories in the dropped category field. The methodthen proceeds to step 622 and a drop-down menu can be displayed formodifying the category elements of dropped data field. As describedabove, this step can be performed in response to a toggle buttonselection. The method then proceeds to step 604, via connectors A.

[0051] If a data field is dropped in the multi-chart drop zone, then themethod branches from step 604 to event block 628. The method thenproceeds to decision block 630, wherein a determination is made as towhether the multiple chart display has been enabled. As described abovein connection with FIG. 5, the display of multiple sub-charts in anintegrated chart report can be enabled and disabled. If the multiplechart display has been enabled, then the method branches to step 624 andan additional chart can be displayed, if necessary, to chart theadditional data provided in the dropped data field. The method proceedsfrom step 624 to step 626. At step 626, the data from the dropped valuedata field is displayed in the added chart. The method then proceeds tostep 604, via connectors A.

[0052] Returning now to decision block 630, if a determination is madethat the multiple chart display has been disabled, then the methodbranches to step 632. At step 632, the data that is displayed in thechart report will be replaced with the data from the dropped value datafield. Accordingly, only the data from the dropped data field will begraphically represented in the chart report. The method then proceeds tostep 604, via connectors A. Notably, although not depicted in FIG. 6, adrop-down menu can be displayed to permit the modification of theelements of the dropped value data field, following steps 626 and 632.

[0053] Advantageously, the method of FIG. 6 can generate and display achart report having one or more charts and/or subcharts in an integrateddisplay (e.g., within the same window). Although no limit has beendefined by the method, those skilled in the art will appreciate that thenumber of charts that can be displayed will be limited by thecapabilities of the display device. That is, at some point, eachsub-chart will be reduced in size so significantly to permit the displayof multiple sub-charts that each sub-chart will be too small to bemeaningfully used as an analysis tool.

[0054] Although the present invention has been described in connectionwith various exemplary embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the artwill understand that many modifications can be made thereto within thescope of the claims that follow. Accordingly, it is not intended thatthe scope of the invention in any way be limited by the abovedescription, but instead be determined entirely by reference to theclaims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for generating a chart report, themethod comprising the steps of: displaying at least one drop zone;receiving a first data field that is dropped into the drop zone;generating a first chart of the first data field, in response to adetermination that the first data field has been received by the dropzone; receiving a second data field that is dropped into the drop zone;and generating a second chart of the first data field and a third chartof the second data field, in response to a determination that the firstdata field has been received by the drop zone and that the second datafield has been received by the drop zone.
 2. A computer readable mediumhaving stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performingthe method of claim
 1. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising thestep of displaying a field list containing at least one data field andwherein the field list contains at least one value data field and atleast one characteristic data field.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinthe first data field is a value data field.
 5. The method of claim 3,wherein the first data field is a characteristics data field.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the drop zone is a drop zone selected fromthe group consisting of: a category drop zone; a filter drop zone; avalue data field drop zone; and a series drop zone.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the second chart and the third chart are generated inan integrated display.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondchart and the third chart are generated in a single window.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the second chart is smaller than the firstchart and the third chart is smaller than the first chart.
 10. Adrag-and-drop user interface for generating a chart report depictingdata contained in a data source, comprising: a field list containing atleast one value data field and at least one characteristic data field; adata field drop zone for receiving the at least one value data field; afilter field drop zone for receiving the at least one characteristicdata field; a category field drop zone for receiving the at least onecharacteristic data field; a multiple chart drop zone for receiving theat least one characteristic data field; and a series field drop zone forreceiving the at least one characteristic data field; wherein the chartreport is generated with more than one chart, in response to receivingmore than one characteristic data field in the multiple chart drop zone.11. The drag-and-drop interface of claim 10, wherein the data in thechart report is limited to at least one element identified in thedropped characteristic data field.
 12. The drag-and-drop interface ofclaim 10, wherein the data in the chart report is separated according toat least one series in the dropped characteristic data field.
 13. Thedrag-and-drop interface of claim 10, wherein the data in the chartreport is categorized according to at least one category in the droppedcharacteristic data field.
 14. The drag-and-drop interface of claim 10,wherein the chart report displays the more than one chartsimultaneously.
 15. The drag-and-drop interface of claim 10, wherein thechart report displays the more than one chart in a single window.